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The 2022 Scottish Open is to become one of three tournaments co-sanctioned by the European Tour and PGA Tour.
The Scottish Open and PGA Tour opposite events the Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship will all count towards both the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.
The announcement was made last week when the PGA Tour unveiled its schedule for the 2021-22 season. It will be worth $35 million more than the 2020-21 schedule, with every one of the 48 tournaments offering increased prize money. The season starts with the Fortinet Championship in California in mid-September, the week before the Ryder Cup.
The new co-sanctioning arrangement for the three tournaments on both tours is the latest development that the two circuits describe as their “historic strategic alliance.”
The announcement also named Genesis as the Scottish Open’s title sponsor, and revealed that prize money for the Irish Open will double to $6 million.
“When we announced the strategic alliance at the end of last year, we said it was a landmark moment for global golf’s ecosystem that would benefit all members of both tours,” said Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour. “Today’s announcement underlines that promise, with further enhancements to the Genesis Scottish Open, a strengthening of the Irish Open for our members, and direct access for European Tour members to two PGA Tour events.
“There has been considerable collaboration behind the scenes between our two tours since November’s alliance was unveiled, and we are delighted to share these initial developments which demonstrate our commitment to working together for the betterment of sport globally. We will have more to announce in the coming months. This is most definitely just the beginning.”
The 2022 Genesis Scottish Open will be played in its traditional slot just ahead of the Open Championship on 4-10 July at a venue still to be decided. The field will be split between European Tour and PGA Tour members.
Genesis’s decision to back the Scottish Open means it now sponsors events on both tours, with the Scottish event joining the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club on 14-20 February.
The 2021-22 PGA Tour schedule includes just two World Golf Championship events – the HSBC Champions in China and the Dell Match Play Championship in Texas. The WGC FedEx St Jude Classic becomes the FedEx St Jude Championship and hosts the PGA Tour’s first playoff event in 2022. It replaces the Northern Trust in New Jersey in that regard.
The first part of the 2022 European Tour international schedule is due be announced shortly with some of the events in the Middle East rumoured to become co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour. Pelley declined to comment on whether the Saudi International will be included on the schedule.
Tickets for the 41st Curtis Cup at Conwy Golf Club, Wales, on 26-28 August have gone on general sale.
The match pits Great Britain & Ireland’s top women amateurs against their counterparts from the United States, with the home side bidding to win back the trophy after a heavy defeat to the Americans at Quaker Ridge in 2018. The U.S. is in pursuit of its first victory on this side of the Atlantic since winning the 2008 match, 13-7, at St Andrews.
Adult tickets for the traditional opening ceremony on Wednesday through to the conclusion of play on Saturday cost £40. Children aged 18 or younger will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
“Throughout the pandemic the Curtis Cup has been a motivating factor for the talented amateur golfers who have had to wait for the opportunity to represent their countries in this prestigious match,” said Phil Anderton, chief development officer of the R&A. “During this time, they have been focused and committed to refining their games and sharpening their skills, and I am sure all golf fans look forward to seeing them compete at Conwy.
“We are delighted that fans once again have the opportunity to walk the fairways, and I know the players will appreciate a crowd cheering them on.”
John Gough and Kirsten Rudgeley attained personal best positions on the World Amateur Golf Ranking following respective victories in the men’s and women’s English Amateur Championships. Gough made a 66-place rise to 141st, while Rudgeley moved inside the top 85 for the first time with a 25-place jump to 84th.
Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup reached a high of 151st on the WAGR table, a 30-position move, with victory in the Danish National Stroke Play Championship.
Tim Wiedemeyer heads a group of three Germans named in the Continent of Europe team for this month’s Jacques Léglise Trophy at Falsterbo Golf Club in Sweden.
Joining recent European Boys’ Team Championship individual medallist Wiedemeyer are Tiger Christensen and Yannick Malik, both of whom were part of the German team which claimed the team title in Denmark.
Italy was second to Germany, and Flavio Michetti and Marco Florioli have been selected for the Jacques Léglise side. Other team members are France’s Oihan Guillamoundéguy, Spain’s Jaime Montojo and Daniel Svärd of Sweden.
One further player will be added to the team in the upcoming weeks.
French international Joachim Fourquet will captain the Continent of Europe for a second time after leading his team to victory at Aldeburgh in 2019.
“As a former player in this prestigious international match, I am honoured to represent the Continent of Europe for a second time as captain,” he said. “I am confident in the team we have selected. It includes highly talented players who have shown great form in national and international championships throughout the season.
“There is little doubt that the GB&I team will be highly competitive but I know that my players will give it their all to win the trophy. I look forward to the challenge of Falsterbo Golf Club and experiencing, with my team, one of the greatest matches of the year.”
The Jacques Léglise Trophy is invariably closely contested with both teams having won five of the past 11 matches with the other halved.
The GB&I team is expected to be announced after this week’s Boys’ Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports.
St Andrews Links and Topgolf Entertainment Group have confirmed a long-term deal making TEG the Home of Golf’s exclusive “golf entertainment partner” for the next 10 years.
A key element of the partnership is the installation of Toptracer Range technology at St Andrews Links, offering live shot data that can be used for practice purposes or to compete in challenges with friends.
The two companies also will collaborate on other initiatives to enable golfers from all around the world to sample what the Home of Golf has to offer.
“We are ecstatic to be partnering with St Andrews Links to help create memorable and engaging experiences at the most storied venue in the world,” Topgolf Entertainment Group chief executive officer Artie Starrs said. “Through our various technology platforms, we’ll be able to welcome millions of people around the world into the Home of Golf.”
“This is an extremely exciting partnership for St Andrews Links,” said Danny Campbell, Links Trust commercial director. “We have worked closely with Topgolf and the WGT game over the last few years and have been very pleased with the reach that the Old Course has garnered at Toptracer Range properties and in the digital realm via the support of WGT.
“This is a partnership we see benefiting St Andrews Links and the Old Course not just on site, but also around the world through the multitude of platforms that Topgolf Entertainment Group can offer.
“In essence, we want to make the experiences of St Andrews accessible to golf fans around the world.”
TAP-INS
Tickets for the 2022 Presidents Cup, to be played next September at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, go on sale 1 October to the general public (READ MORE).
Colin Callander and Alistair Tait